Freshman ProgramA five-day program for first time participants to set ambitious life goals, makeimportant decisions, and uncover obstacles using the Thinking Processes ofTheory of Constraints (TOC). The program is facilitated by Dr. Alan Barnard andsupported by experienced Odyssey Alumni assistants.

Alumni ProgramA three-day program for past attendees of Odyssey Freshman programsTOC’s critical thinking skills will be used to explore atopic/challenge in which no major progress has been made over the past fewdecades and that has relevance both in our personal and professional lives.

Some Frequently-Asked Questions

How did the Odyssey Program come about?Dr. Eli Goldratt initiated the Odyssey program 15 years ago to teach critical thinking skills to youngadults at the important stage in their life when they have to decide “what to do with the rest of my life.”While it was originally targeted at children and spouses of Theory of Constraints practitioners, TheOdyssey Program was re-introduced and significantly upgraded in 2005 under the leadership of Dr AlanBarnard. It was opened to anyone that believes they can benefit from the application of TOC to set andplan to achieve ambitious life goals and/or to analyse and find simple, yet powerful, ways to closeexpectation gaps in their personal lives.

Who can benefit from the Odyssey Program?Attendees of all ages, backgrounds, and nationalities find the Odyssey program helps them discover howto achieve their goals. No matter how diverse the backgrounds, participants find connections to eachother. A 65-year-old may face the same challenge as an 18-year-old. Someone from India may bedealing with the same concerns or conflicts in their life as someone from Germany.

What is the methodology used in the program?The Odyssey Program provides a unique opportunity to learn how to apply a process of enquiry (basedon TOC's holistic approach) to analyze expectation gaps and underlying assumptions and find practicalways to close them.During the program, participants will be introduced to the principles and process to analyze any stressfulsituation using a time-tested, five-question process. They will examine why these stressful situationscame about, what are the underlying conflicts and limiting assumptions, what are the win-win ways ofresolving these conflicts, the obstacles that can block implementation and how to measure ongoingimprovement.

What will I gain from the program?The program helps participants set goals, analyse expectation gaps, understand the unresolved conflictsand limiting assumptions that block them from breaking these conflicts and closing the expectationgaps. They can then develop a robust plan to make the needed changes and achieve a process of ongoingimprovement. Once learned and applied to their own lives, these tools become a permanent partof participants ' ”toolboxes” for leading happier, more successful lives.

Quotes From Past Odyssey Attendees

International Odyssey Alumni 2010 – South Africa

“Let's see what I learned at the Odyssey 2010 course? I learned how to solve my biggest problems usingboth emotion and logic and specifically to understand how to break unresolved conflicts which haveblocked me from making important decisions in a way where there are no winner-loser solutions, onlywin-win answers.”

“I spoke to my daughter today. She said you guys were 'an inspiration' for her, very skilled but approachableand fun. I think the the Odyssey process got her to really see and unlock the inherent potential Ialways knew she had… She said she had such a great week, and I am so glad she was able to learn fromyou and with you.”

“I really had the time of my life at the Odyssey. Didn’t think that you could have fun, learn powerfultechniques to remove conflicts and constraints and apply what you’ve learned all at the same time and injust five days. You really helped me realize how much potential I have and what is possible if I simplyfollow the plan I developed. Can’t wait to return next year as an alumnus to continue my Odysseyjourney, thanks again for everything”.

“The Odyssey definitely impacted my life forever. It has changed my way of thinking in such a positiveway. I would highly recommend Odyssey and look forward to coming back.”

Odyssey Facilitators

Freshman Facilitator: Dr. Alan BarnardDr. Alan Barnard is recognized as one of the leading TOC practitioners, educators,and strategy advisors in the world . For the last 15 years, he has worked with Dr. EliGoldratt developing new TOC knowledge and leading TOC analysis andimplementations for typically large and complex organizations from both theprivate sector (Random House Publishing, SAP, Cisco Systems, BHP BillitonMining, British Columbia Rail, African Explosives, SABMiller, Premier Foods, ABBand Tata Steel) and the public sector (United Nations Development Program andInWent, City Councils in developing countries). He has applied TOC to achievehis personal goal of helping organizations and individuals identify and unlock their inherent potential. TheOdyssey Program was re-introduced and significantly upgraded in 2005 under his leadership following requeststo resurrect, upgrade and offer the Odyssey program around the globe. Dr. Barnard is CEO of Goldratt ResearchLabs, Director of Goldratt Group Africa, Chairman of Realization Africa, Chairman of Aphos and Chairman ofThe Odyssey Institute. He was a founding board member and chairman of TOCICO (Theory of ConstraintsCertification Organization) from 2003-2005, currently serves as chair for the TOCICO Business StrategyCertification committee and received the TOCICO Lifetime Membership award in 2006.

in memory of

Dr. Eli GoldrattDr. Eli Goldratt, creator of Theory of Constraints, is an educator, author,scientist, philosopher, and business leader. But he is, first and foremost, athinker who provokes others to think. Often characterized asunconventional, stimulating, and "a slayer of sacred cows," Dr. Goldrattalways challenges his audience and readers to examine and reassess theirown assumptions about what is possible and how best to achieve goals inboth their personal lives and for their organizations.His first book, “The Goal,” published in 1984, has sold over five million copies and has become mandatoryreading for MBA and Operations Management programs around the world. Since then, he has authored 11more books on Theory of Constraints, with his most recent, “The Choice” and “Isn’t it Obvious?”, published in2009 and 2010.Dr. Goldratt is the founder and chairman of the Goldratt Group that consists of Goldratt Marketing, GoldrattConsulting, Goldratt Schools and Goldratt Research Labs. Dr. Goldratt is also the founder of TOC for Education,a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing the simple yet powerful mindset and methods of TOC tostudents and teachers.Although formally retired a few years ago, Dr. Goldratt still spends his time writing, consulting, lecturing andchallenging himself and others to continue to “think like scientists” to solve important problems and show howto make the impossible possible.Dr Goldratt initiated the Odyssey Program in the early 1990’s and continues to facilitate the annual three-dayInternational Odyssey Alumni program, where he challenges past Odyssey Freshman to join him on a journey ofdiscovery to apply TOC and the hard sciences in solving “impossible” problems.